Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-01

in the condition of human fortune. The |
poor would be on an equal footing |
with the so-called rich, because they |
would be able to stand. They would have
the same intellect, the same mental
strength, the same power to defend them
selves. Then there would not be the ex>
isting difference between labor and capi>
tai. Education, Mr. Gest looked upon,
as the only solution of this great problem.
The nigh school was a necessary ad-
iunct to the common school The seeds
that were sown in the lower grades were
cultivated here and improved. No school
education was complete without the high
school course, and no life could be
strong without a. least the common
school education.
Congressman Gest was follow ed by
Maj, H C. Connolly.
Maj Connells said that Bismarck
few days ago, whilst going to the capital
at a station, was asked by the great crowd
| in attendance to make a speech. He re
piled: Il am not going to make speech;
| am too tiredl Good nightI' A portion
of the press insisted he was rude. An
other portion said he did right-that the
people are tired hearing 50 many speeches
that everywhere we are having per-
feet food of oratOry. When the Army
of the Tennessee was in session here last
fall, with q member of the committee on
toasts, We approached Judge Gresham
and asked him to respond to toast. He
declined with great couItesy-said he was
tired making speeches, and suggested
friend Of his, who is now judge also,
We approached the friend and invited
him to respond. He said: Please don't
ask me to make a speech; came here to
have good time. If | have to make a
speech it will destroy all my plessur ="
He finally consented and made good
speech. A few weeks ago Robert Lin
coin was in Rock Island We invited
him to make a short talk to the old sol
diers. He said no audience would be
more acceptable to him, but he could not
do it. That if he responded to all the
invitations given him to speak he would
have no time to do anything else. He
declined. II any of these distinguished
gentlemen were here today they would no
doubt gladly talk to this intelligent audi
ence. They would be most happy to
say something on this Joyous and pleas,
ant occasion, if at other times they de
cliued talking. To me this ia q delights
full incident. We know something of the
work done in our schools. In all posi-
tons, from the superintendent to the
lowest grade in the schools, we find mos
r honest work. We always have critic
e in our midst, and always will hav,
them. We hear criticisms abou
q this splendid ediice-thst it Is too ex'
: travagantly built, and that money ii
IT wasted in it. 1t is fine building-aI
. elegant structure. But is not the caus'
|, of education worthy u grand monument
II To our great military and civic heroes w
It erect expensive statues of bronze an
Ua h,,, al of O
h tics and dedicate them to the blind god
d. dess. We erect cathedrals and cost
'e churches in which we worship. W
Re build great castles and palatial homes i
,t which we dwell. These we cannot ap
1t preciate without education. Is it nc
quite as proper to honor this great eau:
ID as the objects to which allusion has bee
l. nader There is nothing more America
Ut than our grand system of public school
:, 1t Is corner stone on which our gre
I'd fabric partially rests. At this time the
r is nervous feeling abroad. Public sci
I'd timent seems to demand that anarchist
n, paupers and criminal vsgabonds shou
e, no longer be permitted to come to O.
ch shores from other lands. Restriction
a. demanded as to these classes, and sol
~ restriction should exist. There is lit,
ct danger, however, that these disturbi
n, elements will weaken our power
IS nation, Our system of educa
,,o ing the masses alone will throti
n. these influences. In large elites 9
districts entirely composed of pc
ne pie who cannot speak our tongue a
!. who know, many of them, but little
| the theory of our government. e